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Answer: (B) 10:08 am
Explanation
The train travels from station A to B between 8 am and 12 noon, taking 4 hours. The car travels from station B to A between 8:30 am and 12 noon, taking 3.5 hours or 7/2 hours. Let the distance between A and B be D.
The speed of the train is v_T = D/4 and the speed of the car is v_C = D/(7/2) = 2D/7.
Let the time they meet be t hours after 8 am. By this time, the train has traveled for t hours and the car has traveled for (t - 0.5) hours, since it started at 8:30 am. The sum of the distances covered by the train and the car at the meeting point equals the total distance D:
v_T · t + v_C · (t - 0.5) = D
Substituting the speeds: (D/4)t + (2D/7)(t - 0.5) = D
Dividing the entire equation by D: t/4 + (2/7)(t - 0.5) = 1 t/4 + 2t/7 - 1/7 = 1 (7t + 8t)/28 = 1 + 1/7 15t/28 = 8/7 t = (8/7) · (28/15) = 32/15 hours
Converting 32/15 hours into hours and minutes: 32/15 = 2 hours and 2/15 hours 2/15 hours = (2/15) · 60 minutes = 8 minutes
The meeting time is 2 hours and 8 minutes after 8 am, which is 10:08 am.